Cristofaro was sentenced to four months' jail, suspended for 12 months.

The restaurant made headlines in 2012 when it was reported customersalleged staff had carried on serving meals after a chef collapsed and died in the kitchen.

A nurse who was at the restaurant with her partner told News Corp she had tried to revive the 43-year-old man until she was joined by paramedics at the restaurant, which is in Darwin's northern suburbs.

The nurse, who did not want to be named, alleged staff had stepped over her and ambulance officers "to get to the kitchen".

"They continued to serve food and were stepping over the body," she said.

But the restaurant owner said the only meals that went out of the kitchen during the incident were those which had already been ordered.